If you opened the invitation too quickly for the party honoring Virginia Legier Alpaugh and Shelley Elizabeth Tompkins, you might have missed the delicate white feather inserted into this ethereal enticement. Designed by Shelley’s aunt, Betty Hunley, the feather -- as well as the party particulars on an ecru card -- were situated into a vellum overlay (that opened in the center) imprinted with golden lyres and wreathes, topped with “S” and “V,” and finished with a halo above each letter. When opened, the feather floated out, as if by a mysterious breeze.

The party, held at the Orléans Club, was hosted by parents Mr. and Mrs. William Roussel Alpaugh (Barbara and Billy) and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bedford Tompkins (Jennifer).

The invitation's color theme -- gold, white and cream -- carried over into what the girls and their mothers wore: Barbara Alpaugh donned a Sue Wong beaded beige dress, while Virginia was seen in white Aidan Mattox. Jennifer Tompkins’s beige shift with beaded decoration at the waist, by Alex Evenings, complemented Shelley’s off-white dress with lace overlay and beading at the waist and sleeves by Aidan Mattox. Floral arrangements were lush white hydrangeas in vases filled with cranberries, and the club’s naturally beautiful interiors added the lively scene, which included music from the jazz quartet, The Levee Band. Melodic bells also were ringing, as guests were gifted with a bell on the end of a white ribbon with “Shelley and Virginia 2013” written on it in gold.

Enjoying the late afternoon soirée were Virginia’s grandmothers, Barbara Ramirez and Sedley Alpaugh; sister, Bradley Alpaugh, and brothers Buddy Alpaugh and William Alpaugh Jr. with Elizabeth Marlar; aunt and uncle, Kay and Ted Alpaugh, and cousin, Theo Alpaugh. For Shelley, her sisters, Lydia Tompkins and Page Tompkins, and grandmothers Mrs. Christopher Tompkins of New Orleans and Mrs. D. Jensen Holliday (Estelle) of Baton Rouge, as well as aunts and uncles including Betty and Patrick Hunley,Ann and John Schramm with daughter Laura, Julie and Chris Crifasi, Chris and Tony Lanata with son Nicholas, Yvonne Thompson, and Susan and Dan Holliday. Also seen in the club were Donald McKay and Indie McKay, Carey and Rick Navarro, Katie and Shaun Rafferty, Laura and Rob McNeal, Kit and Gus Fritchie, Leslie and Mark Dudley, Nicole and Dr. Von Graham, Winnie and Mark Brown, Holly and Geoff Snodgrass, Sara Kuebel, Emily Young and a number of the season’s debutantes, including Chandler Moody, Claire Brown and Lindsey Baker.